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The XRP Ledger Foundation (XRPLF) has announced a leadership addition, welcoming Ripple Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz as an Honorary Board Member. The foundation said the appointment was made to bring one of the most prominent and knowledgeable figures in the cryptocurrency space into the independent non-profit responsible for fostering the XRP Ledger (XRPL) ecosystem. The news was shared by the foundation via X (formerly Twitter), highlighting Schwartz’s foundational role in the creation of the network.
Schwartz, who is widely known in the crypto community by his handle @JoelKatz, is described as a key figure in the XRP ecosystem. In 2011, he worked alongside Arthur Britto and Jed McCaleb as a core developer who built the original code for the XRP Ledger. The XRPL was designed as a faster and more energy-efficient alternative to the Bitcoin blockchain.
Schwartz currently serves as the CTO of Ripple. The foundation characterizes him as a frequent and technically authoritative advocate for the XRPL, noting that he regularly engages with developers, validators, and community members on social media to discuss protocol mechanics and future upgrades.
The XRPLF operates as an independent, non-profit entity separate from Ripple. Its mandate is to support the growth, security, and decentralized development of the XRP Ledger. The foundation’s responsibilities include managing core code repositories, maintaining a publisher Unique Node List (UNL) for validators, and supporting global developer initiatives.
By naming Schwartz an Honorary Board Member, the XRPLF is signaling a commitment to technical governance. While the role is described as honorary, the foundation says Schwartz’s experience in applied cryptography and his understanding of the ledger’s foundational architecture are expected to provide strategic guidance to the board.
For the broader XRP community, the appointment is presented as a positive development, with expectations that the XRPL will continue evolving to support more complex features, including decentralized finance (DeFi), automated market makers (AMMs), and smart contracts.
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